Variety of Tibouchina named ‘Cool Baby’

ABSTRACT

‘Cool Baby’ is a new variety of  Tibouchina  plant that is suitable for planting in gardens, containers, and in landscaping having tolerance to low temperatures and white flowers with purple margins.

Botanical classification: Tibouchina×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘COOL BABY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofTibouchina plant, botanically known as Tibouchina×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Cool Baby’.

The new and ornamental variety was selected by the breeder as a resultof an ongoing breeding program that has been conducted by the inventorfor more than thirty years at the inventor's nursery in Victoria Point,Queensland, Australia. The purpose of the breeding program is to producenovel varieties of Tibouchina in varying plant sizes, flower colors, andwhich are well-suited to a range of climate zones. ‘Cool Baby’ is ahybrid plant derived from the deliberate controlled cross-pollination ofthe unpatented female parent, an individual plant of Tibouchinaorganensis, named ‘Totally Moonstruck’, and the unpatented male parent,an individual plant of Tibouchina mutabilis named ‘Jazzie’. The inventoremasculated flowers of the female parent and applied pollen that wasfreshly collected from the male parent in 2003. The parent plants wereisolated to prevent open pollination. In 2007, the inventor selected‘Cool Baby’ as a seedling that had been raised from thecross-pollination described herein. Selection was based on the criteriaof habit, flower color, plant dimensions, and cold temperaturetolerance. The plant was then propagated in 2008 via vegetative cuttingsto produce a new generation for final evaluation.

Further, asexual reproductions of ‘Cool Baby’ in Victoria Point,Queensland, Australia has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retainedand reproduced true to type through more than six successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

The color references made herein are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variation inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined tobasic characteristics of ‘Cool Baby’ which, in combination, distinguishthis Tibouchina plant as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Very compact size and with rounded plant growth (dwarf form);    -   2. Abundant, mid-sized white flowers with a purple margin;    -   3. Slow to moderate vigor;    -   4. Very dense habit;    -   5. Low temperature tolerance; and    -   6. Woody, long-lived shrub.

The new variety differs from ‘Totally Moonstruck’ and ‘Jazzie’ in itssmaller, mature plant size. Further, ‘Jazzie’ exhibits purple flowers.

Further, the new variety exhibits a differing margin color, while ‘PeaceBaby’ does not (U.S. plant patent application Ser. No. 13/815,677).‘Peace Baby’ also has larger mature plant dimensions, a faster growthrate, and lighter green leaves than ‘Cool Baby’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is close-up photograph of a flower of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of an entire plant of the new variety

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 18-25 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 30-40 days at 21° C.

PLANT

-   Plant spread: Approximately 24 cm.-   Plant height: 21 cm.-   Growth rate: Slow to moderate.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Hardiness Zone 9.-   Lateral branches: Length: Approximately 8 cm. Diameter:    Approximately 0.18 cm. Quantity: About 40.-   Age of plant when described: Approximately 48 weeks from a rooted    cutting.-   Growth habit: Dense; compact; rounded.-   Height at maturity: 60 cm.-   Width at maturity: 80 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Strong, basal branching.        -   Main stem diameter.—7 cm.        -   Lateral stem length (average).—8 cm.        -   Lateral stem width (average).—0.18 cm.        -   Internode length (range).—0.8 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Square in cross section.        -   Surface.—Rough.        -   Branch color.—Juvenile: 146D. Semi-ripe: 146B. Mature: 199B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Division: Simple. Margin:            Entire. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Base: Cuneate. Apex:            Acute. Surface (adaxial): Finely pubescent. Surface            (abaxial): Finely pubescent. Texture (adaxial surface):            Prominently ribbed. Texture (abaxial surface): Prominently            ribbed. Attachment: Petiolate. Length (range excluding            petiole): 0.9 cm to 5.8 cm. Width (range): 0.55 cm to            2.4 cm. Color (adaxial surface): Between N189A and 147A.            Color (abaxial surface): 146B. Color of juvenile foliage not            fully expanded: 185A and 147A.        -   Foliar fragrance.—None observed to date.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Reticulate; 3 primary parallel veins.            Color (adaxial surface): 146B. Color (abaxial surface):            146C. Prominence (adaxial surface): Depressed. Vein            prominence (abaxial surface): Raised.        -   Petiole.—Length (range): 0.4 cm to 1.1 cm. Diameter            (average): 0.16 cm. Color: 146C. Surface: Pubescent. Shape:            Cylindrical, but flattened on the adaxial surface.-   Flower:    -   -   Shape.—Rotate.        -   Diameter.—9.3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Facing upward and outward.        -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Blooming period.—Summer through fall; can bloom sporadically            during other times.        -   Inflorescence fragrance.—None observed to date.        -   Petals.—Number: Usually 5 in number (occasionally 6).            Central color (both surfaces): 157B. Margin color (both            surfaces): 77A. Central color as senesces: 76B and 76C.            Length: 4.3 cm. Width: 3.4 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse            to flattened. Base: Broadly attenuate. Shape: Irregularly            obovate. Surface (abaxial and adaxial): Glabrous. Fused or            unfused: Unfused.        -   Buds.—Shape: Elliptic. Color: 144C. Surface: Pubescent.            Apex: Acute. Length (at first sign of petal emergence):            2 cm. Diameter: 1.05 cm.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupule. Color: 144C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5 in number. Width : 0.56 cm. Length:            1.1 cm. Surface (adaxial): Smooth. Surface (abaxial):            Pubescent. Color (adaxial surface): 144C. Color (abaxial            surface): 144B. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Truncate. Fused or unfused: Unfused.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 0.5 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter.            Shape: Cylindrical. Color: 146D. Surface: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: Usually 10 in number (5 long and 5 short).            Color: 84B. Length: 5 longest approximately 3.4 cm; 5            shortest approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Anthers.—Color: Ranges between 79A and N81B. Shape: Sickle.            Length: 5 longest approximately 1.4 cm; 5 shortest            approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Shape: Columnar. Color: 145A and 75C.            Length: 2.6 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Flattened. Color: 145A.        -   Ovary.—Color: N44A. Length: 1 cm. Width: 0.56 cm. Shape:            Cupule. Surface: Pubescent and ribbed. Position: Inferior.        -   Seeds.—No seeds have been observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Tibouchina plant named ‘CoolBaby’ as herein described and illustrated.